Mercurial alkaline process.



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.-

WILLIS E. HARMON', OF MECHANIC FALLS, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO AMERL.

CAN ELECTROLYTIC COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEN-NS 'LVANIA, A

CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

MEROUR'IAL ALKYALINE PROCESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 13. 1906.

Application filed July 6, 1905. Serial No. 268,524.

1'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIs EflI'IARMON, of Mechanic Falls, in the county 01 Androscoggin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mercurial Alkaline Processes, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to electrolytic processes for the productionof alkali of the well-known ty ein which two compartments are separated by a body of mercury in order that an alkaline amalgam may be fdrmed with the mercury in one compartment, from which the alkaline element may be dissociated in the other compartment. Such processes are termed mercurial processes, and I employ partment.

I have discovered that the advantage above referred to can best be secured byinterposing pieces of carbon in the amalgama tingcompartment between the mercury and the electrolyte in contact with both. This maintains an acid condition in the compartment and secures theresulting advantages of increased efliciency of the apparatus and freedom from explosion.

According to my inventi n .I. place in the amalgamating-compartmen at the beginning of the process small pieces of carbon, the quantity and size bein regulated accordingto the requirements 0 the case. Ordinary powdered or-" -lisintegrated carbon, such as may be obtained by grinding up an ordinary the electrolyte.

carbon electrode, serves well; but larger pieces may be employed. The total quantity added should be but small and should be maintained fairly constant as the process proceeds. The

pieces of carbon being heavier than the electrolyte, but lighter than the mercury, descend through the electrolyte and rest on top of the mercury in contact with it and with In this osition they maintain the acid condition. of the compartment. I have found that satisfactory results are obtained by using one gram of powdered carbon per square foot of mercurial surface in the amalgamatingcompartment. As the process proceeds a slight loss of carbon may occur, and this'should be made up by further additions, without, however, increasing the total quantity used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a mercurial alkaline rocess, the insertion of pieces of carbon in t e amalgamating-compartment in contact with both the mercury and the electrolyte.

2. In a mercurial alkaline process the method'of increasing the efiiciency of the process, which-consists in placin a small quantity of car bon between the electrolyte and the mercury'inthe amalgamating-com partment. V

3. In a mercurial alkaline process, the method of increasing the efiiciency of the process which consists in addin a small quantity of powdered. carbon to the electrolyte in the amalgamating-compartment,-and

maintaining the quantity of the carbon there.

in fairly constant as the process proceeds.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name,'at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 3d day of July, 1905.

WILLIS E. HARMON.

Witnesses:

' JAMEs H. BELL, E, L. FULLERTON. 

